Downtown Summerville will once again take on a fall look as Summerville Main Street invites schools, businesses, clubs, nonprofit organizations and families to participate in this year’s Scarecrow Contest.
A Junior Angler Fishing Day will be held Saturday, September 26, from 10 AM until 2 PM at Canyon Mouth Park at Little River Canyon National Preserve.
The event is being held as part of National Public Lands Day and will feature fishing instruction and education for all ages, along with fish-printing arts and crafts for those who do not want to fish.
All supplies will be provided.
Fishing is free for youth ages 16 and under. Adults who want to fish must have a valid Alabama fishing license.
Participants can also complete a Junior Angler booklet to receive a Junior Angler Ranger badge.
There will be no entrance fee for the day.
Again, the event is Saturday, September 26, from 10 AM until 2 PM at Canyon Mouth Park at Little River Canyon National Preserve.
The Cloudland Volunteer Fire Department will sponsor a Labor Day Gospel Fest this Monday, September 7, at Cloudland Community Park.
The event will be held from 10 AM until 2 PM Eastern Time and there is no admission charge.
The Gospel Fest will feature open-mic gospel music, and sound equipment will be provided. Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in during the event.
The Cloudland Volunteer Fire Department will also be selling barbecue plates for $10, which includes a drink.
The Labor Day Gospel Fest offers residents an opportunity to enjoy gospel music, food and fellowship while supporting the Cloudland Volunteer Fire Department.
Again, the event is Monday from 10 AM until 2 PM at Cloudland Community Park, with no admission fee.
The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office will hold a hot dog lunch and bake sale later this month to raise money for several community programs.
The fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, September 25, from 10 AM until 2 PM at the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, 533 Underwood Drive in Trion.
For $7, participants will receive a lunch that includes a hot dog, chips, drink and dessert. Additional baked goods will also be available for purchase.
Money raised during the event will help purchase items for the Christmas Baskets distributed by the Sheriff’s Office, provide prizes for citizens participating in the department’s Senior Well Check Program, and support the Health & Heart Hydration Fund, which purchases hydration and healthy snacks for patrol officers.
Residents are invited to stop by the Sheriff’s Office during the four-hour fundraiser to have lunch, purchase baked goods and support the programs.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is offering an opportunity for adults to earn their GED in just three days at no cost through an accelerated program coming up in October.
The program will be held October 15-17 at GNTC’s Whitfield Murray Campus, located at 2310 Maddox Chapel Road in Dalton.
Participants who qualify will receive free GED instruction, free practice tests and free GED testing, along with free meals and snacks during the three-day program.
Pre-registration is required by September 16, and space is limited. Those registering must also attend an assessment session on either September 19 or September 24.
The program is available to adults 18 and older, and a government-issued ID is required. GNTC notes that not every applicant will qualify for the accelerated three-day program, but other learning options are available for those who do not.
Anyone interested in participating can contact GNTC Adult Education at 706-272-2909 or adulted@gntc.edu for additional information.
The University of Georgia Extension in Chattooga County will honor Rebecca Thomas later this month as she retires following 30 years of dedicated service to local youth, families and the community.
A retirement celebration for Thomas will be held Tuesday, September 29, from 1 until 5 PM at the Chattooga County Ag Center, located at 40 Middle School Road in Summerville.
Organizers are inviting friends, former and current 4-H members, families and community members to drop by during the afternoon for refreshments and fellowship while recognizing Thomas’s three decades of service.
During her career with UGA Extension, Thomas has been a familiar face to generations of Chattooga County residents, particularly through her work with Chattooga County 4-H. The retirement celebration will recognize what organizers describe as her extraordinary journey of leadership, compassion and unwavering commitment to the youth, families and communities she has served.
The celebration is open from 1 to 5 PM on September 29, allowing visitors to stop by throughout the afternoon to congratulate Thomas and wish her well in retirement.
Local bakers who believe they make the best apple pie around will have a chance to prove it during the upcoming Old-Fashioned Apple Festival in Summerville.
Summerville Main Street is putting out the call for competitors for both the Standard Apple Pie Contest and Fried Apple Pie Contest during this year’s festival.
There is no registration fee to enter, and organizers say the contests offer local bakers an opportunity to showcase their favorite recipes while competing for cash prizes, trophies and bragging rights.
Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded in each division. First place will receive $100, second place $75 and third place $50.
The Old-Fashioned Apple Festival is set for Saturday, September 5, from 10 AM until 3 PM at the Summerville Depot. Along with the apple pie competitions, the festival will feature apple-themed products, craft and food vendors, live demonstrations, children’s activities and live music throughout the day.
Those interested in entering either apple pie competition can contact Summerville Main Street at 706-859-0900, extension 1337, or email slocklear@summervillega.org for contest rules and registration information.
Members of the Chattooga High School Class of 1968 are making plans to get together next month for their annual class reunion.
The gathering will be held Saturday, September 19, at The Red Lobster on Shorter Avenue in Rome.
Class members will have a dining room reserved beginning at 2 PM and continuing until 6 PM.
Organizers say they hope all classmates and their spouses will attend and are also extending an invitation to members of other classes who would like to join them.
The reunion will be casual, providing classmates an opportunity to visit, catch up and share memories.
Anyone with questions or who may be hesitant about attending is encouraged to contact Vicki McCorsley at 770-313-5207.
Speak Life, a special needs family support group serving Chattooga County, will hold its August gathering Saturday, August 29, at 11 AM at the Trion Recreation Department.
Job seekers from across Northwest Georgia will have an opportunity next month to meet with employers from several counties during a multi-employer job fair in Walker County.
WorkSource Georgia and the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority will host the event on Tuesday, September 22, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Walker County Civic Center, located at 10052 North Highway 27 in Rock Spring.
Employers from Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties are expected to participate and will be recruiting for available positions.
Organizers are encouraging job seekers to prepare in advance by creating an individual account through the WorkSource Georgia portal before attending. Applicants should also bring multiple copies of their resumes to share with prospective employers.
The job fair is designed to connect area residents directly with companies that are currently hiring and give employers an opportunity to meet potential workers from throughout the four-county region.
The event is being co-sponsored by the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce, Chattooga Chamber of Commerce, Alliance for Dade and The Walker Chamber of Commerce.
The multi-employer job fair will be held Tuesday, September 22, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Walker County Civic Center in Rock Spring.